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Mato as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Mato

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The baby name Mato is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Croatian/Serbian: /ˈmato/ (MAH-toh),English approximation: /ˈmɑːtoʊ/ (MAH-toh).

Mato is Croatian, Serbian in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Croatian, Serbian
Pronunciation: Croatian/Serbian: /ˈmato/ (MAH-toh),English approximation: /ˈmɑːtoʊ/ (MAH-toh)

What is the meaning of the name Mato ?

The baby name Mato is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Croatian/Serbian: /ˈmato/ (MAH-toh),English approximation: /ˈmɑːtoʊ/ (MAH-toh).

Mato is Croatian, Serbian in Origin.

Mato is a cross-cultural given name with two well-known origins. In Lakota/Dakota, Matȟó means “bear,” a powerful emblem of strength and protection. In South Slavic usage - especially Croatian and Bosnian - Mato functions as a short form of Matej/Mateo, ultimately from Hebrew Matityahu, “gift of God.” Slovak Maťo serves the same role as a familiar nickname for Matej or Matúš. Despite different roots, both streams lend the name resonant, positive meanings.

Among Plains tribes, Mato appears in personal names and toponyms such as Matȟó Thípila (“Bear Lodge,” Devils Tower). In the Balkans it is recorded from the early modern era and stayed common into the 20th century, supported by the veneration of St. Matthew. Related forms include Matej, Mateo, Mate, Matija, Matúš, and Croatian Matko; feminine counterparts are Matea and Mateja. Diminutives or derivatives include Slovak Maťo and the surname Matoš.

Mato has the following similar or variant Names

Mato – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
HR Boys 0 #71 729 3,997
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
SI 0 #79 2 1,612
RS 0 #84 1 923
Switzerland Boys 2024 #134 4 1,769
HR 0 #135 45 2,081
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
RS Boys 0 #146 9 2,277
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
UY 0 #182 1 2,477
SI Boys 0 #196 14 3,402
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
GR Boys 0 #271 3 6,912
AL Boys 0 #280 19 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #283 22 6,530
HR Girls 0 #289 6 3,687
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
Canada Boys 2022 #306 5 2,557
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
Austria Boys 0 #337 107 2,180
PL Boys 0 #338 3 6,459
QA Girls 0 #343 1 15,378
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
SD Girls 0 #358 1 7,678
GH Boys 0 #360 2 8,138
UY Boys 0 #379 21 5,922
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
PH Girls 0 #428 2 13,098
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
SD Boys 0 #463 4 10,523
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
AR Boys 0 #475 9 7,628
PA Boys 0 #504 2 9,305
LY 0 #516 20 12,703
IQ Girls 0 #521 5 11,303
RU Boys 0 #524 3 12,621
IR Boys 0 #531 22 10,162
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
HK Boys 0 #549 9 12,905
CM Girls 0 #560 1 11,671
KW Girls 0 #561 1 19,177
CM Boys 0 #573 3 12,054
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
AE Girls 0 #597 1 20,968
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
SG Girls 0 #632 1 18,916
CL Boys 0 #635 31 13,390
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
HK Girls 0 #648 3 16,104
BO Girls 0 #650 2 9,488
IQ Boys 0 #651 17 13,071
IN Girls 0 #652 3 13,121
LB 0 #684 7 13,263
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
QA Boys 0 #739 5 18,093
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
NG Girls 0 #776 11 15,093
BR Boys 0 #784 2 12,213
KW Boys 0 #805 2 18,755
Germany Boys 0 #809 144 5,697
EG Boys 0 #859 28 15,035
TN 0 #864 2 13,765
United States Boys 2024 #885 8 7,044
NG Boys 0 #889 63 16,906
CO Boys 0 #903 18 15,656
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
OM Boys 0 #916 3 17,948
PE Boys 0 #925 2 14,506
NL Boys 0 #935 17 5,873
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
EG Girls 0 #1,005 5 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,007 8 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,032 2 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,035 5 16,750
MY Girls 0 #1,071 2 24,821
MA 0 #1,085 44 20,986
MY Boys 0 #1,096 16 25,439
ZA Girls 0 #1,101 41 25,928
AE Boys 0 #1,141 3 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
DZ 0 #1,165 12 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,165 14 25,619
TR 0 #1,250 5 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,405 67 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,590 25 28,008

Mato is popular in 63 countries — most recent births per country:

Switzerland
United States
AE
AL
AO

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People also ask about Mato

Mato is predominantly a boy's name.
Mato is a 2 syllable name, pronounced Croatian/Serbian: /ˈmato/ (MAH-toh),English approximation: /ˈmɑːtoʊ/ (MAH-toh).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Matko, Mate, Matej, Matija, Mateo and Matteo.
Across languages, Mato has these equivalents: Matthew (English), Mateo (Spanish), Matteo (Italian), Mathieu (French), Matthias/Matheus (variants).
Yes — Mato ranked #134 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 3 countries.
Mato ranks highest in Switzerland (#134 in 2024).
Mato's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #147 in 2014 to #134 in 2024 in Switzerland.